GRENOBLE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CEA-Leti and LUCIOM, which develops visible-light communication using
light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have launched a project to develop
high-data-rate LiFi transceivers. With this technology, LUCIOM
expects to offer in mid-2015 one of the first high-data-rate
bidirectional light-fidelity, or LiFi, products that can work with
different LED lighting sources, and on mobile devices.

Visible light communications (VLC) has gained significant momentum in
recent years, primarily because of expectations that LEDs will become
predominant in the lighting market. As LiFi benefits from this rapid
market penetration of LED lighting sources and their reduced cost, it
will become more efficient and economical compared to wireless RF
communications.

Moreover, because LEDs can be modulated at very high frequencies and
their oscillations are invisible to humans, they permit information
transmission at very high data rates.

Earlier this year, Leti demonstrated a new prototype for wireless
high-data-rate Li-Fi transmission. The technology employs the
high-frequency modulation capabilities of LED engines used in commercial
lighting. It achieves throughputs of up to 10Mb/s at a range of three
meters, suitable for HD video streaming or Internet browsing, using
light power of less than 1,000 lumens and with direct or even indirect
lighting. This technology will be adapted to meet the needs of LUCIOM’s
transceivers.

LUCIOM’s technology allows the convergence of light-emitting diodes with
the worldwide proliferation of mobile devices to make any LED lighting
source a high-speed data transmitter that is both secure and
environmentally friendly.

Based on integrated circuits and transceivers, the technology turns LED
light sources into positioning beacons, which transmit signals. This
allows smartphones and tablets to become LiFi enabled, thanks to a
receiver that is implemented in a 3.5mm audio jack dongle. The compact
size of the receiver eases the integration in the device. In addition,
the audio remains accessible from the audio interface, even when the
LiFi application is launched from a smartphone.

LUCIOM’s technology can be combined with the use of gyro-sensors present
in smartphones and tablets to predict movement between two beacons and
provide a very accurate position to the user. This way, communication
between phones and smart indoor LED lighting can be used inside
buildings when GPS technology is no longer effective. The localization
application can also be used to provide additional personalized services
or information to customers as well as information to the infrastructure
manager.

In addition to these indoor-positioning applications, the company is
targeting high-data-rate video transfer. The project between Leti and
LUCIOM builds on their previous collaboration in which Leti developed an
optical over-the-air data link for the company that allows the
transmission of true HD video from a lamp to a handheld receiver.

“Our indoor geo-localization could guide shoppers through the maze of
large shopping malls to the stores they are seeking, and LED lighting in
museums could be used to guide visitors through an enriched tour of the
displays and exhibits,” said Michel Germe, CEO of LUCIOM. “Working again
with Leti, we will be able to bring new, bidirectional transceivers that
enable these applications to market in 2015.”

“LUCIOM was one of the first companies to see that LEDs and LiFi can
offer a powerful, secure and highly energy-efficient communications
alternative to WiFi,” said Leti CEO Laurent Malier. “With Leti’s first
proof of concept developed earlier this year and its expertise in RF
communications, we expect data-transmission rates in excess of 100Mb/s
with traditional lighting based on LED lamps.”

About CEA-Leti

By creating innovation and transferring it to industry, Leti is the
bridge between basic research and production of micro- and
nanotechnologies that improve the lives of people around the world.
Backed by its portfolio of 2,200 patents, Leti partners with large
industrials, SMEs and startups to tailor advanced solutions that
strengthen their competitive positions. It has launched more than 50
startups. Its 8,000m² of new-generation cleanroom space feature 200mm
and 300mm wafer processing of micro and nano solutions for applications
ranging from space to smart devices. Leti’s staff of more than 1,700
includes 200 assignees from partner companies. Leti is based in
Grenoble, France, and has offices in Silicon Valley, Calif., and Tokyo.
Visit www.leti.fr
for more information.

About LUCIOM

LUCIOM SAS turns LED light sources into positioning beacons that
transmit signals, and develops solutions for smart lighting and wireless
communication based on the emerging green LiFi technology. The company’s
technology allows the convergence of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with
the worldwide proliferation of mobile devices to make any lighting
source a high-speed data transmitter that is both secure and
environmentally friendly. LUCIOM’s products target indoor positioning
and geo-marketing and high data-rate video transfer. Visit www.LUCIOM.com/en/